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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: bore · current · mouse · pitch · key · rock · plane · snap

  1. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. snap — to click
  2. current — happening now
  3. current — electric
  4. key — the most important part
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. rock — a stone
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. key — for a lock
  9. bore — to drill
  10. current — of water
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. snap — to speak sharply
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. pitch — completely
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. snap — to snap out of it
  20. rock — music
  21. plane — a tool
  22. key — in music
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. bore — to tire

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com